C-shaped toggle clasp

ABSTRACT

A jewelry apparatus comprising a toggle ring and a clasp configured within the toggle ring, the clasp including a toggle bar that toggles with the toggle ring at a front side of the toggle ring, and a C-shaped member that interlocks with rear and bottom sides of the toggle ring.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention described herein generally relates to a C-shaped toggle clasp with interlocking toggle bar and toggle ring.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, toggles have been used as clasps for necklaces and bracelets. When a traditional toggle is used to connect an item, such as a charm pendant, to a necklace, bracelet, earring or accessory, two problems occur. First, when a traditional toggle clasp is toggled/connected, the toggle bar rotates within the toggle ring. Therefore, an item connected to the toggle bar is susceptible to flipping over and hanging backwards. Secondly, when a traditional toggle clasp is toggled/connected, the vertical member of the toggle bar protrudes at a 45° angle from the toggle ring. Therefore, an item connected to the toggle bar will hang improperly and will not hang directly beneath the toggle ring.

When a traditional toggle clasp is toggled/connected, the toggle bar rotates within the toggle ring, making an item connected to the toggle bar susceptible to flipping over and hanging backwards. In addition, when a traditional toggle clasp is toggled/connected, the vertical member of the toggle bar protrudes at a 45° angle from the toggle ring, making it impossible for an item connected to the toggle bar to hang properly, directly beneath the toggle ring. Traditional toggles are designed as functional clasps for necklaces and bracelets. They are not designed to attach items to necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories, because their design makes items hang improperly and makes them susceptible to flipping over. There are currently no toggle clasps designed to suspend an item directly beneath a toggle ring, while also holding it securely in place so that it does not rotate or flip over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system for a jewelry apparatus comprising a toggle ring and a clasp configured within the toggle ring, the clasp including a toggle bar that interlocks with the toggle ring at a front side of the toggle ring, and a C-shaped member cupping rear and bottom sides of the toggle ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a toggle ring according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a clasp according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a jewelry apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a jewelry apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of exemplary embodiments in whole or in part.

A jewelry apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention solves both of the problems associated with traditional toggle clasps. The jewelry apparatus is designed to securely attach items to necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories. FIG. 1 presents a toggle ring according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toggle ring 1 is attached to a necklace, bracelet, earring or accessory via attachment loop 5. Toggle ring may be used in conjunction with a clasp 4, illustrated in FIG. 2.

The toggle bar 2 is “toggled,” latched, or otherwise attached to the toggle ring 1, with the C-shaped member 3 securely interlocking with the bottom of the toggle ring 1. The clasp 4 can be further attached to an item, such as a charm pendant at the C-shaped member 3 portion. This allows the item to be toggled on and off of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories at the toggle ring 1. When the C-shaped member 3 of the toggle bar 2 interlocks with the bottom of the toggle ring 1, it forms a secure, interlocking connection that allows the item to hang directly beneath the toggle ring 1 and prevents it from flipping over.

As illustrated, the toggle bar is securely in place, such that it will not rotate within the toggle ring. The jewelry apparatus makes it possible for an item connected to the toggle bar to hang properly, directly beneath the toggle ring. The jewelry apparatus is an improvement over traditional toggles, because it securely holds an item in the proper place, directly beneath the toggle ring, while also preventing it from rotating, or flipping over. This jewelry apparatus allows items to be attached, stacked and interchanged on necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories, in a new and secure way.

An individual may use the jewelry apparatus to attach and interchange items on necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories. An individual could attach multiple items at a time, by stacking two or more of toggle bar 2 within a single toggle ring 1 on a necklace, bracelet, earrings or accessory. In addition, items attached to clasp 4 are interchangeable on necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories that feature the toggle ring 1. The jewelry apparatus improves on the design of traditional toggle clasps, by interlocking the toggle bar 2 and toggle ring 1, with an innovative C-shaped design in the vertical member of the clasp 4. The C-shaped member allows the item to hang securely, directly beneath the toggle ring 1, and prevents it from flipping over.

The jewelry apparatus can be cast in two pieces—toggle ring 1 and clasp 4 including toggle bar 2 with C-shaped member 3—from an alloy or precious metal. Both pieces may then be plated and polished to a desired finish. The toggle ring 1 can be attached to a necklace, bracelet, earring or accessory and the toggle bar 2 with the C-shaped member can be attached with an item, such as a charm pendant.

FIGS. 1 through 4 are conceptual illustrations allowing for an explanation of the present invention. Notably, the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A jewelry apparatus comprising: a toggle ring; and a clasp configured within the toggle ring, the clasp including a toggle bar that interlocks with the toggle ring at a front side of the toggle ring, and a C-shaped member cupping rear and bottom sides of the toggle ring. 